Paddle wheel reinforcement means



P 1952* E. o. HENDRICKSON PADDLE WHEEL REINFORCEMENT MEANS Filed Aug. 23, 1949 EDWARD Ojfmmcxsargmmvron.

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Patented Sept. 16, 1952 PATENT Y This-invention relates to paddle wheels.

In the use of paddle wheels heretofore, such as in the type 'ofpaddle wheel here illustratedbeing one used with a small grain harvester, binder 'or combine, in the farm'machinery art, it has be come frequently necessary to replace the paddle or slat barsthereof; Those bars as well asthe radial spokes of the wheel, are'made of wood, and are secured together with a common square lugged button headed carriage bolt. Thati bolt has been' seated through' the slat; with its square portion held only by' asquare hole formed for'it in the wood slat, with the naturalresult of in ability to remove the: bolt, when necessary to replace the Islat, upon the nut'be'coming'rusted on the bolt and the square woods'eat' for :the bolt becoming worn of rotten from:weather action Ton thewood, the button head offthe'bolt beingthe only part exposed, there'being' no way of holding the button en'd'of therbolt to'r'emove' the mm from theotherend. f 'Heretofore, also, there has been no way: known in the art to preventutheslatsof the wheelffrom splitting,- warping andsbe'coming'? loose on the spoke. arms,- -and the spoke arms from splitting, with the'result thatthe entire wheel assembly-at its periphery,becomes weakened and loose, and the wheel racks transversely of its periphery, becomes inoperative'from split slats and arms and requiresfrequent disassembly and replacement of slats;and armsthereof,-.resulting in many lost man hours.-.* 1

-To. overcomethose defects of. construction, it 115 3 principal object of this invention to provide anovel paddle wheel reinforcement means, used in connection with the bolt; for reinforcing, both the slat-and the arm when bolted together, to prevent breaking thereof. v I

7 Another principal object of myinvention ispto provide such a reinforcement means as Wi1l S8- curely hold the slat and the arm of 'thewheel together, as one rigid unit-against any side move-- mentor racking of the wheel. Another object of my invention is the-provisionof such a reinforcement means for cooperation with the conventional'button headed square lugged carriage bolt. .-Another object of my-invention is the provi sion of a novel? washer having two channels there- 'in, each at right angles to the other, with a channel-on: each side of the washer, adapted to substantially enclose the paddle wheel arm in one channel and the slat intheother'channel. Other and further objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following deof securing the slats to their arms. 1

'r DDLu-WHE L REINFORCEMENT MEANS f 1 ildwardotnndrickson, Grenville, SQDak, I i

fi Afipli cation August 23,1949, Serial no. 111,823 I t seams. (cite-"220i 2- I tailed description, reference being had to the. accompanying drawing, in which drawing:

Figure :l is a partial perspective of a paddle wheel of the type used on grain combines;

Figure 2 is a composite exploded perspective view of the various parts used to connect the'slat and arm of a paddle wheel; Y

Figure 3 is a composite assembled view, in perspective, of the parts shown in Figure 2;; and

Figure 4 is a partial, assembled, perspective view of a modified form of my novel reinforces ment means or washer, being of unitary construction; vwith perspective view, Figure ia, being of thatwasheralone. a

Throughout the various views, in the follow.- ing description, I have used like'characters of reference to designate like or similar parts. Referring now to the drawings: 1

"The reference numeral l0 designates 'apaddle wheel of the type used with harvesters and combines, in the farm machinery art, having a plurality of spokes or arms radiating therefrom, designated'as' H, to the outer ends of aligned tones of which'xare secured slats I 2. Instead of just sinking abutto'n headed,'square lugged,-bolt,-,of the .carriage bolt type, into the slat, with the button'on the slat side, which, is an inferior and temporary method of securing the slats l2 to their respective arms II, for reasons previous1y,.-explained, I provide a novel reinforcement means "I'heframe .of a grain-harvester is ,diagrammatie cally-illustrated in; Figure ,1, by reference numeral l. The paddle wheel, 10 has its hub-shaft 4 axis suitably journalled in bearing members 2 secured to the frame, there being one of said bearingsat each end of the horizontal shaft 4.-though only one is shown. Drive shaft 3, diagrammatically shown, operated by the source of power operating the harvester, and journalled in bearings on the frame structure, in the conventional manner, has a chain drive sprocket wheel 3a secured radially aligned sets of spoke arms H, each or the arms: being rigidly. secured to the main hub shaft 4 by a conventional hub structure,*so that revolution of 4 causes the arms I l to revolve with it, and at the outer extremity of the aligned arms a slat member I2 is bolted to those arms, as illustrated. It is apparent, in this modification illustrated, that the paddle wheel I revolves in its entirety on its horizontal axis 4. My novel reinforcement means is applied at the juncture of each of the arms I l with its slat member I2.

That reinforcement means of mine, illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, comprises a novel pair of complemental channel members or washers, l3 and IS. The channel washer I3 is of a length the same as the. width of the slat l2.,'and has downturned arms l4 spaced so as to provide a channel for snugly receiving the end of the arm H therebetween. Centrally of the washer l3 isa hole 16 positioned to receive the; bolt 24, which. bolt also extends down through the hole I! in the arm H.

At each end of the washer I3, there 1 are a pair of upturned wings-t5, which wings are of a height slightly less thanthe thickness oi the slat I2, and the distance between wings l5- is formed so as to provide a channel for snugly receiving the slat t2 therebetween. The channel washer 1,9 is also of a length the same. as the width ofv the slat l2, and. has. downturned wings 22 spaced so asto provide a channel therebetween those. wings 22 for snugly receiving the slat l2 therebetween, when assembled. as illustrated in Figure 3. A square opening, designedl tov receive the. square lug body portion. a of. the bolt 24,, is provided centrally of the, washer i-9'in, alignment with the opening 18: for the bolt in. the slat. [2. Stats 12,:madeof wood, usually warp after they have: been used a whilaandto assure thatwasher l9 holds the slat from warping. I. provide up turned bridge truss type reinforcement. arms 2B,

integral with the base of that washer, which pre vents'the slat t2. from so-warpi'ng. by constantly extending the-pressurefrom. the bolt button head 26, after assembly, through the: entire surface 01'v width of the slat by means of those arms 20. During assembly, as illustrated in Figure. 2, a washer 2t is inserted over the screw end of the. bolt and anut 25 is screwed then onto the bolt, after the, parts shown in'exploded' view Figure 2, have been placed togetherv in the order shown for assembly. As that bolt is tightened, wings 22, of washer l-9, telescope with Will-gsxl5, oi washer [3, each of those wings being slightly shorterthanthe thickness of the slat l 2. i At the beginning of assembly, one of these wings at each side of the slat I2 is slightly bent in or out with relation to the slat, by a suitable! tool, such as apair-off pliers, toperm-it that wing to teles-copically: pass the wing of the other washer on that side as the members are drawn together-by a tightening of the'bolt nut, thus effecting a complate and snug encasement of the slat bythe washers I-3 and IS. Lower wings M, of washer l'3,actwith relationship to that washer, after assembly,.asbridge arms for preventing any flexing of that washer as it rests against that side of the slat opposite from washer l9.

It. will thus be seen that my novel reinforcement. means, comprising a pair of rig-ht angularly'opposed channel washers, not only acts to re inforce the respective slat and arm held together therein, when the. bolt. assembly is secured in place; as; illustrated in Figure 3, but, also acts'to securely and rigidly hold one of those members with relation to the other onev from twisting: or; moving on that bolt, thus preventing. any racising of the outer paddle wheel peripheral assembly; The latter is important, as heretofore the. arms and slats of a paddle wheel have had to be-replacedmany times during the life of a machine, due to.- the racking, and twisting and split- 4 tin-g of the arms and slats caused by the loose bolt connection therebetween, With my novel reinforcement means, one set of arms and slats will last the life of the machine, barring unforseen mishap-s. The snug telescopic relationship between the wings 22 and [5, after assembly is important to accomplish that rigidity between the arms H and slats l2. It is to be understood, that, instead of having the distance between the wings, l5 and 22, of each. washer; respectively,

identical, the one'set can have a slightly larger distance, for ease of assembly.

In Figure 4, I illustrate a modification of my invention, in the form of a unitary washer 28 instead of two washers. Figure 4a clearly illustrates this washer-as having three main surfaces: namely, the upper. surface strap 30, which rests on top of the slat, side wings 40 which rest against each side of the slat l2, and extending downwardly, as illustrated, are a pair of parallel wings 4|, spaced apart, sufilcient to allow the arm- H to snugly fit between those wings. A square hole 21 for the square lugged bolt body is provided in the strap 30. This unitary washer is made of less material than the pair of washers previously explained and illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, and accomplishes the same purpose. The wings 4-!- are welded onto the lower" edges of wings. .40, as illustrated, being spaced withthe upper edges: of 4! parallel with strap 30 and with'those edges spaced a distancefrom. 30 equivalent; to the-thicknessv of slat. I2. Thus it. will be seen, relative. to the modification. of: my reinforcement means illustrated. in Figures 4. and 4a, that. this; washer. also has two. right angularly opposed channels. One of those channels is the one for the arm H between'the. wings 4i, and relative to which it is to be noted thatthe arm rests upwardly'against the under edges/oi" wings,v 40.; and the other of those channels is the one wherein the. slat. l2'is inserted, namely between strap 30, wings and the upper edgesof the. other wings 4L. The-latter channel is a loop channel and effects rein.- .forcem-ent of the slat therein as. a result. The wings 4| act asreinf-orcement or strengthening armsv for preventing a hen-ding of that loop and thus the slat is heldagainst warping.

It is to be noted, in both modifications of my invention heretofore described, that the square opening provided for seating the square lugged carriage bolt therein, in each instance, assures that the nut 25 may be removed at any time, despite a rusting between it and the belt, at any time, as. those square bolt body seats in the washer hold the body of the bolt from turning at all times, should it be desired to remove the bolt nut, for disassembly for any reason. I preferably make my washers or washer of galvanized thick gauge metal or light alloy metal. It is to be understood, that while I' have shown and described my invention with relation to its use in the farm machinery paddle wheel art, that it is adaptable and usable in any art wherein a paddle Wheelis used, and I am not to belimited by the preferred embodiment of my invention here shown and described.

Having thus shown and described detailed modifications of my'invention, it is to be understood that many changes and modifications may be made. therein without deviating from the spirit and scope ofmy invention, and it is to hetherefore distinctly understood that I wish to befound only by the appended claims. I

What I claim and desire to secure-by Letters Patent-is:

1. The combination with a paddle wheel having a spoke arm, an axially aligned paddle-slat overlapping the arm, and a square-lugged button-headed bolt securing the one to the other, of reinforcing and joining means associated with said bolt comprising a U-shaped washer adapted to receive and hold the slat between the arms of the U, said washer being positioned between the bolt head and the slat and having a square hole adapted to snugly receive the square-lugged portion of the bolt therein, and the washer having upturned bridge reinforcing arms on the opposite side thereof from the U-shaped arms, said bridge arms being adapted to reinforce the washer, and in turn reinforce the slat held thereby, for transmitting bolt head pressure throughout the entire washer surface to the slat.

2. The combination with a paddle wheel having a spoke arm, an axially aligned slat, and a square-lugged button-headed bolt securing the arm to the slat, of reinforcement means comprising a pair of channel washers, one of said wash ers having two upturned wings adapted for snugly receiving the slat between said wings and also having downturned wings for snugly receiving the arm therebetween at a right angle to the slat and being positioned between the arm and the slat, the other of said washers being also adapted to snugly receive and hold the slat between the sides of its channel and being positioned between the bolt head .and the slat, said second washer having a square hole adapted to snugly receive and hold the square-lugged portion of the bolt therein, and said second washer having upturnedreinforcing bridge arms on the opposite side thereof from its channel sides for reinforcing the said washer as it is pressed against the slat by the bolt head.

3. The paddle wheel combination as claimed in claim 2, and characterized further by the definition of the upturned wings of the first washer being adapted to telescope with the sides I of the second washer channel for snugly holding the slat between said two washers and between said wings and sides against movement when the bolt draws the arm and slat together.

4. In combination, a pair of complemental washers, adapted for association with a bolt, a nut therefore, and two members designed to be securely held together by the bolt and nut at right angles to each other and in overlapping relationship to each other, each washer having a channel portion for receiving one of said members therein, one of said washers being adapted to be pos t ed between said m be s a the other of said washers being positioned on the other side of a member from said first washer, each of said washers having a pair of bridge arms adapted to extend perpendicular to and transversely of said member positioned between said two washers, and also each of said washers having a pair of wings adapted for'snug telescopic encasement of the sides of said member positioned between said two washers.

5. A reinforcement and holding means for a paddle wheel having spoke arms extending radially from the axle thereof and axially aligned paddle slats bolted on the arms, comprising a pair of complemental channel washers in association with said bolt, the channel of each washer being adapted to substantially enclosed the adjacent portion of a slat near one end of the bolt, said washers and an arm and its slat each having a hole therethrough for receiving the bolt, one of said washers being adapted upon a seating of the bolt through said holes to reinforce said slat and also to hold the slat onto its arm, and the other of the washers being adapted thereupon to reinforce said arm and to hold it with relation to its slat, each washer having a pair of reinforcing bridge arms on its side thereof opposite from the channel side and which arms constitute means for so reinforcing said slat by transmitting bolt securement tension to the slat throughout each entire washer surface adjacent said channel, the sides of each channel of each washer being adapted to telescope together and around the said slat, said'means for reinforcing and telescoping sides comprising said means for holding.

EDWARD O. HENDRICKSON.

REFERENCES CITED 7 The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 79,009 Rundell June 16, 1868 381,137 Hodges Apr. 17, 1888 381,308 Whiteley et a1. Apr. 17, 1888 408,750 Rockwell et a1 Aug. 13, 1889 909,055 Bowers Jan. 5, 1909 2,255,270 Pimm Sept. 9, 1941 2,283,943 Myer May 26, 1942 2,345,847 Wink Apr. 4, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 3 G eat Br ta n we Dec- 4, 1 06 

